Abutment device for the platens of a multiplaten press



March 5, 1968 K. BRUDER ETAL 3,371,380

ABUTMENT DEVICE FOR THE PLATENS OF A MULTIPLATEN PRESS Filed Dec. l5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 HIV 12 Herberf Buschfelc! Karl Bruc/er INVENTORS.

BY [pa 6 '3 Attorney March 5, 1968 K. BRUDER ETAL 3,371,380

ABUTMENT DEVICE FOR THE PLATENS OF A MULTIPLATEN PRESS Filed Dec. 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Herberf Buschfelc/ Karl Bruc/er Fi 2 INVENTORS.

Attorney United, States Patent 01 3,371,330 ABUTMENT DEVECE FDR THE PLA'IENSi (9F A MULTIPLATEN PRESS Kari Bruder, Krefeid, Herbert Bnschfeld, Erlrelenz, and

Klaus Gerhardt, Nenisirehen-tluyn, Germany, assignors to Firma G. Siempelkamp & Co., Krefeid, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Dec. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 513,975 priority, application Germany, Mar. 16, 1565,

5 $5,979 Claims. (6i. 18ll7) The present invention relates to multiplaten presses of the type commonly in use for the compression of fibrous mats into fiber boards and sheets of hard, intermediate or soft character. More particularly, this invention is directed to improvements in multistage or multiplaten presses also known commonly as multiopening presses, wherein a plurality of vertically spaced generally horizontal platens each are charged with the fibrous, granular or powdery mass to be pressed and the platens are simutaneously or successively closed with subsequent application of pressure and, generally, heat to form the loosely coherent or noncoherent layers on each platen into plates, boards or sheets.

In multiplaten presses of the aforedescribed type, the closing of the press prior to the application of substantial pressure to the material to be shaped has been carried out essentially by two systems which can be characterized as successive or simultaneous. It is known, for example, to provide an ascending ramp which, during its elevation, successively lifts the platens carrying the material to be pressed from the lowermost to the uppermost from their respective supports or intercepts until the entire stack is compressed against the head plate of the press. In these arrangements, the duration ,of the press pressure and the pressure level to which the material is exposed vary from platen to platen since each platen adds its weight to the platen therebelow. The intercepts or supports for the platens, from which they are lifted by the ramp, may have the configuration of stepped bodies with the successive vertical stages being offset horizontally outwardly to permit each lower platen to clear the intercept steps thereabove.

In presses of the other type, as exemplified in the commonly assigned US. Patents Nos. 3,050,777, issued Aug. 28, 1962, and 3,209,405, issued Oct. 5, 1965, the individual platens are elevated simultaneously by a control device in such manner that the lower platens do not take up the weight of the upper platens until the press is substantially closed and the pressure is about to be applied by the bed plate or ramp. In simultaneous-closing mechanisms for such presses, the spacing between adjacent platens is reduced gradually as all the platens are elevated toward the head of the press, this stepped closure being proportioned to ensure that the lowermost platens move at a relatively fast rate while the higher platens move more slowly whereby the material on each platen is spaced from the next higher platen by a clearance of the order of several millimeters just prior to the compres sion stroke of the ramp. In presses of this type it is also convenient to provide a stepped support for the platens in the open condition of the press corresponding to the position in which the platens are charged with the material to be compressed and previously pressed goods are removed.

In multi-platen presses of this conventional type, it is observed that the pressed platens come to rest sharply and with a jolting impact with the stepped intercepts especial ly when the presses are of the fast-opening or high-speed type; presses using simultaneous-closure devices are for the most part of this character. Arrangements m which Claims 3371,38 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 these impacts are precluded by the provision of fluidoperated shock-absorbing cylinder devices or springs between the platens for cushioning the impacts have not proved satisfactory since the cushioning action is difficult to control and involves a considerable stroke of the dashpot device. Arrangements whereby the platen-lifting ele ments were braked to afford a cushioning effect also have proved to be unsatisfactory as have systems in which spring or other devices were disposed between the platens so that each platen formed an abutment or support for the platen disposed thereabove.

The principal object of this invention is, therefore, the provision of a multiplaten press of the fast-opening type in which the aforementioned disadvantages can be avoided.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved abutment device for supporting the platen of a multiplaten press in the open condition thereof.

These objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are attained, in accordance with the present invention, by providing an abutment or intercept device in the form of a stepped plate on the frame of the press or adjacent this frame having horizontally offset vertically spaced abutment surfaces elastically yieldable in the vertical direction whereby the abutment surfaces each is engaged by a respective platen of the press and yieldably support it in the open condition of the press. According to an important feature of this invention, each of the abutment surfaces is formed by a respective inset vertically movable within a recess in a support plate receiving the inset with longitudinal play while spring means, advantageously in the form of dished-disk springs or Belleville washers stacked in a bore of the inset, resiliently urge the inset upwardly against the impact of the respective platen.

According to a more specific feature of this invention, each of the insets is removably mounted in the respective recess of the support body and is vertically guided therein by an upstanding pin receivable in a vertical bore in a tongue of the inset extending away from the platen, the pin being, in turn, removably held in the recess by its head which is threadedly engaged by bolt means or the like, extending into the recess from a side of the support body of the stepped plate opposite that at which the platens are disposed. This arrangement is particularly advantageous in that it provides a cushioning surface for each of the platens which is unaffected by ambient temperature and humidity conditions, which does not require frequent adjustment, and which is individual to each platen thereby avoiding damage to the platens as well as to the intercept. The guide pins through the tongues of the insets will maintain the desired horizontal lay in spite of the fact that only the outer edge portion of each inset is engaged by the respective platen.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical elevational View of a multiplaten press embodying the abutment platen of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, drawn to an enlarged scale, of a detail of the abutment plate; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 1, I show a multiplaten press of the general type described in commonly assigned US. Patent No. 3,050,777, issued to Eugen Siempelkamp, wherein the press platens I, 2, 3 etc. are vertically spaced and lie horizontally between the support frames of the press one of which is shown at 10. The simultaneous-closure device for this press can include a plurality of flexible cables 11 passing around idler pulleys 12 and atfixed to bed 13 of the press which is vertically movable by a hydrauliccylinder assembly 14. The cables 11 are connected to large steps of respective stepped-cone pulleys 15 journaled on the head plate 16 of the press. From the individual successively smaller-diameter steps of these pulleys 15, further cables 17 run to the platens 1, 2, 3 etc. in ascending order. Thus, as the bed plate 13 rises, cables 11 are drawn downwardly and around the idler pulleys 12 to rotate the respective stepped-cone pulley 15 and wind up the cables 17 at rates proportional to the diameters of the individual steps whereby lower plates rise at a faster rate than the higher plates so that as the press is closed, the interplaten spacing decreases as the platens rise. When the press is closed, the bed plate 13 can apply the desired pressure against the stacked platens and the material carried thereby in the usual manner. Upon rapid lowering of the bed plate 13, the individual plates 1, 2, 3 etc. lower rapidly and, in accordance with this invention, engage respective steps 21, 22, 23 etc. of the stepped plate 20 disposed on each side of the stack of plates and atfixed to the frames or free-standing upon the foundation 9 of the press. When the simultaneous-closure device 11, 12, 15, 17 is not used, the intercept plates 20 have their steps successively engaged by the plates as they are lowered one-by-one with the bed plate 13. Thus it will be understood that the present improvement is applicable to multiplaten presses with simultaneous-closure devices of the type shown here or of the type of the prior U.S. Patent No. 3,209,405 or any other in which it is advantageous to provide supports for the individual platens in the open condition of the press.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, I show the construction of the abutment plates 20 in greater detail. Thus, it will be seen that the abutment plates 20, which can be vertically shiftable in their entirety against a spring force as diagrammatically shown at 24 in FIG. 1 or provided with individual elastic cushioning members, preferably comprise respective abutment surfaces 30 designed to intercept the platens 1, 2, 3 etc. as they are lowered onto these horizontal surfaces which are vertically spaced and horizontally offset outwardly correspondingly with the horizontal offset of the successively higher platens at their supported edges. Thus, each abutment step of the plate 20 comprises a respective inset 34 received within a respective recess 35 in the plate 20, the insets 34 being longitudinally shiftable therein. The inset 34 has rearwardly extending tongues 34a having vertical bores 340 in which bearing sleeves 41 are provided for receiving fixed vertical guide pins 36. The front portions 341'; of the inset 34 are provided with resilient means 37 in the form of axially aligned stacked dishedspring washers (Belleville washers) which urge the inset 34 upwardly against the upper wall of the respective recess 35.

The guide pins 36 are insertable in the recess 35 together with their respective inset 34 and have heads 38 which are locked in the recess by bolts 39 threaded into the heads 38 and passing through the rear walls of the plates 20 into the respective recesses. When the bolts 39 are disengaged, the guide pins 36 with their heads 38 and their respective insets 34 can be slipped out of the recesses 35.

As previously described, the spring means 37 cushioning the insets 34 against impact with the respective platens 1, 2, 3 etc. are Belleville Washers; these washers surround respective centering studs 42 which are guided in bores 44 coaxial with the cylindrical recesses 45 receiving the Belleville washers. The studs 42 have heads 43 against which the stacks of spring washers 37 are seated and which bear against the bottom walls 35' of the respective recesses 35. In effect, therefore, each inset 34 is guided in its cushioning movement by a pair of parallel guide pins 36, 42. A passage 47 communicates between the guide 2E. bore 44 and the exterior of each inset 34 to prevent the formation of gas cushions between the stud 42 and the walls of the inset. It will be understood that such gas cushions are disadvantageous in that their stiffness and cushioning effects depend upon ambient atmospheric conditions and thus they are, to a large extent, unpredictable and tend to vary with wear between the stud 42 and the wall of bore 44 guiding same. As wear develops, the gas-cushion effect may be lost and it may be necessary to increase the stiffness of the spring means. By providing the passa e 47, however, these problems are avoided. The stack of spring washers 37 bears against a seat-forming disk 16 at the junction between the bores 44 and 45.

As the platens 1, 2, 3 etc. engage their respective abutment surfaces 3%, these surfaces yield downwardly with compression of the springs 37 to afford the desired cushioning effects. Adjustment of the stiffness of the spring can be effected by exchange of the spring washers or by using a greater or lesser number of them, the inset asemblies 34 being rapidly replaceable in the plates 20.

The invention described and illustrated is believed to admit of many modifications within the ability of persons skilled in the art, all such modifications being considered within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a multiplaten press having a multiplicity of vertically movable plates, the improvement which comprises an abutment device having vertically spaced horizontally offset stepped abutment surfaces individually engageable by respective platens of the press for supporting said platens in an open condition of the press, and resilient means for permitting elastic movement of said abutment surfaces upon their engagement by said platens on pressopening movement thereof.

2. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said device comprises an upstanding support plate formed with a multiplicity of recesses open in the direction of said platens and flanking same, respective insets received in said recesses and forming said abutment surfaces while being engageable with the respective platens, and guide means in each of said recesses for vertically guiding the respective inset for vertical movement with respect to said support plate, said resilient means including spring means individual to each of said insets for urging same upwardly within the respective recess.

3. The improvement defined in claim 2 wherein said insets each have a forward portion extending out of the respective platen and a rearward portion provided with a vertical bore, said guide means including a pin individual to each of said insets and slidably received in said bore of the respective inset and means for removably mounting said pins in said recesses.

4. The improvement defined in claim 3 wherein each of said pins has an enlarged head and said means for removably mounting said pins in said recesses includes a respective bolt threadedly engageable with the head of the pin and extending through said support platen into the respective recess.

5. The improvement defined in claim 4 wherein said bore is formed by a bearing sleeve received in a throughgoing opening in said rear portion of each inset.

6. The improvement defined in claim 3 wherein each of said insets has a downwardly open recess in the respective forward portion, said spring means including a stack of spring washers axially aligned in each of said recesses, and a respective centering stud passing through said washers, said insets each having a guide bore coaxial with said recess and slidably engaging the respective stud for guiding said stud in the respective inset.

7. The improvement defined in claim 6 wherein said studs have heads bearing upon bottom walls of said recesses and forming seats for the respective stacks of spring washers.

8. The improvement defined in claim 7 wherein each of said insets is provided with a venting passage com- 5 6 municating between the respective guide bore and the References Cited exterior for preventing the formation of a gas cushion UNITED STATES PATENTS for the respective stud.

e imprsvemem defined in claim 8 wherein Said fiijii 55%??3 fifvifigjjiiijiiiii 132i; passage 18 i Wlth feces? 2,884,033 4/1959 Thurnher 18-17 X 10. The imurovement defined in claim 6 wherein the 3,050,777 8/1962 siempelkamp stud and the pin of each of said insets are mutually parallel, said rear portions of said insets being constituted FOREIGN PATENTS as tongues, said pins having heads overlain by said tongues 1,096,055 12/ 1960 Germany.

for removably mounting said insets in said recesses. 10 L HOWARD FLINT, JR Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A MULTIPLATEN PRESS HAVING A MULTIPLICITY OF VERTICALLY MOVABLE PATES, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES AN ABUTMENT DEVICE HAVING VERTICALLY SPACED HORIZONTALLY OFFSET STEPPED ABUTMENT SURFACES INDIVIDUALLY ENGAGEABLE BY RESPECTIVE PLATENS OF THE PRESS FOR SUPPORTING SAID PLATENS IN AN OPEN CONDITION OF THE PRESS, AND RESILIENT MEANS FOR PERMITTING ELASTIC MOVEMENT OF SAID ABUTMENT SURFACES UPON THEIR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID PLATENS ON PRESSOPENING MOVEMENT THEREOF. 